Peabody middle school principal moving on

PEABODY – Higgins Middle School principal Melissa Matarazzo will be vacating her position in June to pursue a doctorate degree at Harvard University.Matarazzo has been principal at the Higgins since the fall of 2005 where she completed a three-year contract and is currently on a one-year extension that will expire June 30.Tight lipped about her decision, Matarazzo, who was appointed to the position at 29 years old, simply said she would be pursuing an education leadership degree at the Harvard graduate school where she also earned her Master’s degree.Superintendent of Schools Milton Burnett said there wasn’t an issue with her contract and dismissed any idea that there is bad blood between the two.”She is highly intelligent, articulate, follows through on things and I am going to miss her,” he said. “I always thought she would go higher than a middle school principal and I’m sure we’ll see her name again.”Matarazzo was the third highest paid School Department employee in 2008-2009, earning $101,543.Burnett said the job has been posted in the Boston Globe for about a week or so and will remain advertised until May 15. At that point, focus groups will be formed, along with a screening committee to whittle down the group to three finalists.”I hope to have a replacement in place by the end of June,” he said. “We also have some very confident headmasters just in case. But I trust that she (Matarazzo) will leave the school in shape.”Aside from Matarazzo, four other principals’ contracts are set to expire in June: Madeline Roy of the Center School, Amy Sullivan of the McCarthy School, Monique Nappi of the Welch School and Susan Cassidy of the West School.In 2010, the following principals’ contracts are set to expire: Elaine Metropolis of the Brown School, Cara Murtagh of the Carroll School, Maryellen McGrath of the South School and Ed Sapienza of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School.In 2011, principal Judith McNiff’s contract will expire as well.